LAC-MEGANTIC, Que. - The Transportation Safety Board is calling for two immediate changes in rail policy following the Lac-Megantic catastrophe. The agency isn't waiting for the results of its multi-month investigation, which has just begun, to make the recommendations. It has sent Transport Canada two safety advisories asking for a pair of changes: first, that dangerous goods not be left unattended on a main track and, also, that rail equipment be properly secured. "As this [Read more]
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US federal study finds frac fluid doesn’t spread
PITTSBURGH (AP) - A landmark federal study on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, shows no evidence that chemicals from the natural gas drilling process moved up to contaminate drinking water aquifers at a western Pennsylvania drilling site, the Department of Energy told The Associated Press. After a year of monitoring, the researchers found that the chemical-laced fluids used to free gas trapped deep below the surface stayed thousands of feet below the shallower areas that supply drinking [Read more]
Deadly derailment won’t stop oil on trains
BY JONATHAN FAHEY AP ENERGY WRITER NEW YORK (AP) -- A train loaded with crude oil could soon roll through a town near you. A fiery and fatal train derailment earlier this month in Quebec, near the Maine border, highlighted the danger of moving oil by rail. But while the practice could be made safer, it won't be stopped in its tracks. This year, more trains carrying crude will chug across North America than ever before - nearly 2,400 carloads a day. In 2009, there were just 31 carloads a [Read more]
Oil tops $108 a barrel for 1st time since March 2012 on US economic news
NEW YORK - The price of oil shot to a 16-month high Thursday on signs the U.S. job market is improving, although not by enough to prompt the Federal Reserve to pull back on its bond-buying program. Benchmark crude for August delivery rose $1.56 to finish at $108.04 a barrel, the highest close since March 19, 2012. Oil has jumped more than $11 a barrel in July, and pushed up the price of gasoline along with it. Gasoline futures have gained 13 per cent since July 1, and the average [Read more]
CNRL ordered to restrict steam injection at oilsands site after leak
CALGARY - The Alberta Energy Regulator has ordered Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. to restrict steam injection, enhance monitoring and accelerate cleanup at its Primrose and Wolf Lake oilsands projects. The move comes three weeks after the AER reported an emulsion of oilsands bitumen and water had been released on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range. Click here to read the release from the AER. [Read more]
Alberta Energy Regulator orders enhanced monitoring and further steaming restrictions at Primrose and Wolf Lake projects due to bitumen emulsion releases
Calgary, Alberta (Jul 18, 2013)… The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has ordered Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) to restrict steam injection, enhance monitoring, and continue to accelerate cleanup efforts at its Primrose and Wolf Lake high pressure cyclic steam stimulation (HPCSS) project following incidents involving the release of bitumen emulsion to surface within the project area located in the Cold Lake region. Earlier this year, as a result of three releases of bitumen [Read more]
Penn West Exploration Announces Organizational Changes to Streamline its Management Structure and Second Quarter Conference Call Details
CALGARY, July 18, 2013 /CNW/ - PENN WEST PETROLEUM LTD. (TSX - PWT; NYSE - PWE) ("PENN WEST" or the "Company") announces that effective immediately it is further streamlining and focusing its management structure. Moving forward, our business will have a focus on production delivery led by Gregg Gegunde, Senior Vice President, Production and asset value enhancement led by Mark Fitzgerald, Senior Vice President, Development. The remaining members of the executive officer team will continue to [Read more]
PanTerra Announces Change to Credit Facility and Update to Previously Announced Disposition
CALGARY, July 18, 2013 /CNW/ - PanTerra Resource Corp. ("PanTerra" or the "Company") announces that it has received a commitment letter for a revised credit facility from its lender and has entered into new terms in regards to the closing of the second tranche of its previously announced sale of 60% of the Company's Working Interest in its Carrot Creek Cardium assets of Central Alberta. Pursuant to the terms of the commitment letter, the Company's revolving operating demand loan will be reduced [Read more]
Blackbird Energy Announces TSX-V Approval of Farmout Agreement With Pennant Energy Inc.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - July 18, 2013) - (TSX VENTURE:BBI) Blackbird Energy Inc. ("Blackbird" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Farmout Agreement (the "Agreement") with Pennant Energy Inc. ("Pennant") has been approved by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). Pursuant to the terms of the Farmout Agrement, Pennant may earn a 30% working interest in certain lands and leases (the "Farmout Lands") owned by Blackbird in the Mantario area of West [Read more]
Marksmen Announces Appointment of Director
CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - July 18, 2013) - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. Marksmen Energy Inc. ("Marksmen" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:MAH) announces that it has appointed, subject to regulatory approval, Bruce W. Barren as a director of the Corporation. Mr. Barren, who has consented to join the board of directors of Marksmen, is a corporate executive and advisor with over 45 years of experience in more than 200 [Read more]